Face It, You Shouldn't Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets Alone

by Sue Booth
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

Change the entire look of your kitchen without changing your cabinets entirely. You can give your kitchen a dramatic new look by refacing your cabinets. Kitchen cabinet refacing is a great way to save money on a kitchen renovation without sacrificing quality. But don't skimp -- hire a cabinet contractor to do the job.

Don't Do-It-Yourself, Hire a Cabinet Contractor

A do-it-yourself cabinet refacing job can be rewarding, but doing it yourself can be a nightmare if you don't have the right skills or equipment. You can spend hours on a kitchen renovation job only to yield disappointing results. Hiring a contractor with solid experience will most likely give you the best bang for your buck. Here are some reasons you should recruit a professional:

• A cabinet contractor will use the correct tools to remove or install cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware; make sure adhesive is secure; and install the facing so that seams and edges are flawless.
• Safety should always be a concern in any kitchen renovation. If your kitchen is older, you may have lead-based painted cabinets. A contractor is trained to contain the dust and particulates properly.
• You may be biting off more than you can chew with a do-it-yourself job. Kitchen renovation projects can take about 30-40 percent more time than expected. With a full-time job, you may not have the kind of time a contractor has to dedicate to your project.
• If you tend to become impatient with detail-oriented work, you may be tempted to rush through the project, increasing your chances of sloppy workmanship. Hiring a contractor can result in a better quality job.

A poor kitchen renovation can actually detract from a home's value and appearance. A poorly refaced cabinet can look worse than a bad paint job. You may think you're saving if you do it yourself, but hiring a contractor may save you time and unexpected costs in the long run. Hire a contractor to reface your cabinets--your kitchen will be renewed and you'll add years of life to your cabinetry.

About the Author
Sue Booth is a freelance writer and a former product analyst for Good Housekeeping magazine. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.